Collaborating on Land and Sea: Fall 2007 VAC Consortium Meeting

Speaker Bios

Bidisha Biswas, National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) Members-Only Class

Dr. Bidisha Biswas is on the faculty of the Department of Political Science at Western Washington University. She obtained her doctorate in Government and Politics at the University of Maryland at College Park in 2006. Her work focuses on international security issues.

Her current research is on transnational cooperation in counterterrorism. She is investigating the impact of post-9/11 security measures on border security and diaspora politics in the US and Canada. Dr. Biswas's research is supported by National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism and the Border Policy Research Institute, Western Washington University. She teaches a number of courses in international relations, including on global terrorism, democratization and American foreign policy.

Andrew Csinger, University of British Columbia Canadian Panel Member

Andrew Csinger has held a variety of executive management roles and advises senior management on technology transfer, market and corporate development, and mergers and acquisitions in the high technology arena.

Dr. Csinger is Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of British Columbia, and a collaborator in the Cognitive Systems Group, where he divides his attention between fostering a culture of entrepreneurialism and lecturing on the subject of Digital Trust. He is advisor to a number of local startups including Cryptolex Trust Systems (www.cryptolex.com) and Memotrax Music Systems (www.memotrax.com). Andrew was recently EVP of Product Strategy and Development at Dategrity Corp., a spin-out from the Votehere Corporation, where strong privacy technology is being developed to meet rapidly emerging compliance needs and enablement opportunities.

Andrew was Senior VP and CIO of Group Telecom from 1998 to 2002. GT’s successful initial public offering took place in March 1999. During this period, GT became Canada’s most successful Competitive Local Exchange Carrier, with 400,000 kilometers of fibre, 1500 employees in offices from coast to coast, a quarter billion revenue run rate and over a billion dollars in financing.

In 1998, he developed and operated the first PKI Certification Authority and Repository to be licensed under Washington State Digital Signature legislation. This seminal work influenced the later adoption of federal U.S. law (the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act of 2000, or "E-Sign Act"), and was an early model for the adoption by other states of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA).

In 1996, he founded Xcert Software Inc., a technology leader in the emerging business of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). Xcert was acquired by RSA Technologies Inc.

Andrew received his Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Computer Science from UBC and a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from McGill University. A Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Post-Doctoral Fellow at Simon Fraser University, and a visiting scholar at the German Center for Artificial Intelligence in Saarbrucken, his work on artificial intelligence techniques has appeared in journals and conferences around the world. His research focused on user-modeling by computer in intelligent multimedia interfaces.

Dr. Csinger is regularly invited to speak at conferences and events, about technology and its effects on society and business.

Larry Donovan, Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center, Pacific Maritime Panel Member

Lawrence Donovan is the Science and Technology Integration Manager at the USCG’s Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center, Pacific (MIFCPAC) in Alameda, CA, where he is responsible for the integration of advanced technologies into MIFCPAC. Prior to this, he was the Chief of the Vessel Targeting Section at MIFCPAC since 2004.

Mr. Donovan has a long career in military intelligence, including serving as an intelligence officer onboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during her first two deployments to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf in 1991-1993. He was then assigned to the Joint Interagency Task Force West (JIATF West), where he served as an Intelligence Watch Officer and Intelligence Analyst, making two extended counter-drug deployments to embassies in New Delhi, India and Cairo, Egypt. Mr. Donovan also worked at JIATF West as a civilian Information Systems Security Manager, Web Master and Intelligence Analyst.

As a reservist, Mr. Donovan has served in a variety of positions since 1997, and is currently the Executive Officer for the Office of Naval Intelligence 0194 unit. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, he was mobilized and served as the Operations Officer, Cargo Tracking Division at ONI in support of Operation Noble Eagle.

He holds a Masters of Science Degree in Quality Systems Management from the National Graduate School and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Political Science from Northwestern University. Mr. Donovan is also a recent graduate from the Naval War College’s College of Distance Education Command and Staff Program. Mr. Donovan has a number of military and civilian awards, including the 2006 Department of Homeland Security’s Intelligence Leadership Award, the 2006 USCG Commandant’s Captain Niels P. Thomsen Innovation Award (Operations/Readiness) for the Pi/MIFCPAC Intelligence Targeting Matrix, and the 2007 National Military Intelligence Association’s Admiral Frederick Billard Award.

Brian Fisher, Simon Fraser University Canadian Panel Member

Brian Fisher’s Ph.D is in Experimental Psychology from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Currently he is an Associate Professor of Interactive Arts and Technology at Simon Fraser University and Associate Director of the Media and Graphics Interdisciplinary Centre at the University of British Columbia. He is also a member of the SFU Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in the Mathematical and Computational Sciences, and the UBC Brain Research Centre and Institute for Computing, Intelligent and Cognitive Systems.

Dr. Fisher chaired the International Symposium on Smart Graphics and is Area Chair for Perception and Cognition for the IEEE Symposium on Visual Analytics Science and Technology. He teaches postgraduate Cognition, Learning, and Collaboration, and Quantitative Research Methods in Interactive Arts and Technology at SFU, and at UBC has taught HCI, Usability in Engineering Design, e-Business, and Entrepreneurship in their Computer Science, Engineering, and MBA programs. Prior to SFU, he was a Research Professor at Rutgers University Centre for Cognitive Science, and a founder of ThoughtShare Communications Inc. and the New Ventures BC Association, which hosts a technology-based business plan competition in British Columbia, Canada.

LCDR Jim Ford, Office of Naval Intelligence, USN Keynote Speaker

LCDR James Ford is the current Chief of the Advanced Maritime Analysis Cell (AMAC) at the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). In that role he is responsible for developing analytic methodologies and technologies that assist the Office of Naval Intelligence in serving the intelligence needs of the U.S. Navy and other military organizations.

For the past eight years, LCDR Ford has been involved in knowledge management, data mining, and data fusion R&D activities. He created two very successful support organizations tasked with providing full spectrum technology, information, and knowledge support to disadvantaged user groups operating around the globe. He led the creation of three separate terabyte/teraflop-size data mining and knowledge discovery projects supporting multi-level security enclaves and thousands of users.

LCDR Ford has designed several software applications with uses ranging from biometric verification, to high-value entity tracking and targeting, to inventory and tasking management. LCDR Ford’s leadership positions have found him in positions of authority in organizations of up to a hundred people and with budgets over $15 million.

LCDR Ford is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, an eleven-year veteran of the United States Navy with five combat tours, and is fluent in Italian and Spanish.

Mark Goodwin, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory VAC Consortium Director

Mark Goodwin has broad responsibilities for establishing and implementing commercial strategies and collaborative partnerships with industry for government programs. Mr. Goodwin is also Director of the Visualization and Analytics Center (VAC) Consortium for the Department of Homeland Security. Prior to that, he was responsible for the protection and deployment strategies for intellectual property generated across PNNL in the Information Technology domain. Before moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1999, Mr. Goodwin had been involved in entrepreneurial and new business development activities in Silicon Valley for over 20 years. He founded and ran several companies and created new commercial businesses from traditional government only operations within both small and large corporate organizations. Mr. Goodwin holds numerous patents and is a frequent speaker at conferences on topics ranging from energy to IT and technology transfer. He is a graduate of University of California at Berkeley.

Capt. John Holmes, Port of Los Angeles Maritime Panel Member

As deputy executive director of operations at the Port of Los Angeles, Capt. John M. Holmes oversees the Port Police, Port Pilots, Emergency Preparedness, Wharfinger and Homeland Security divisions at the number one containerport in the nation.

Capt. Holmes holds the ultimate responsibility for Port-related security and public safety issues. His divisions work cooperatively with associated government and law enforcement agencies to uphold maritime laws, enforce safety and security regulations, and continually test and enhance emergency response and preparedness procedures to ensure the safety of the Port workforce and residents in the surrounding harbor communities.

Capt. Holmes has 30 years of international management experience in a variety of positions that include a chief operating officer, Fortune 500 executive, senior level Coast Guard officer and industry renowned maritime security specialist. He most recently served as a principle and chief operating officer of the Marsec Group, a full-service security consulting firm specializing in supply chain security, technology and operations. Prior to forming the Marsec Group, Holmes was vice president and director of business development for Science Applications International Corporation, where he assisted government and commercial customers with the development of technological solutions to homeland security challenges, with an emphasis on port, border and military solutions.

Capt. Holmes retired from the United States Coast Guard in 2003 following 27 years of distinguished service in a variety of posts that included Commanding Officer, Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection and Captain of the Port for the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex. As Captain of the Port, Holmes was at the helm on September 11, 2001, and has been credited with swift and decisive actions that ultimately led to the creation of number of national security initiatives, including the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA), Area Maritime Security Committee and national Sea Marshal Program.

Earlier in his Coast Guard career, he served as Deputy Chief of the Coast Guard Office of Congressional Affairs in Washington, D.C. and as Delegate and Committee Chairman at the International Maritime Organization in London.

Capt. Holmes holds bachelor’s degrees in English and education from Boston College, and a master’s degree in business administration from Washington University’s John M. Olin School of Business. He currently resides in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.

Joe Kielman, Department of Homeland Security DHS Representative

Joe Kielman serves as Science Advisor in the office of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology for DHS. He is Director of Research Futures for the Command, Control and Interoperability Division and serves as Acting Director for Transition for the Human Factors Division at the Science and Technology Directorate. Prior to joining DHS, Dr. Kielman worked for 20 years at the FBI. Joe has an undergraduate degree in Physics and graduate degrees in Biophysics and did his postdoctoral research in Genetics.

Mike Kluse, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory PNNL Laboratory Director

Michael Kluse is interim Laboratory Director of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy. Prior to this assignment, which began January 1, 2007, Mr. Kluse had responsibility for all of PNNL’s national security business, which includes science and technology for DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration, DOE’s Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the Intelligence Community.

From 1996 through 2002, Mr. Kluse was the Vice President and General Manager of Battelle’s Navy Sector. Prior to transferring to PNNL in 1997, he served as Vice President of Operations of Battelle’s Defense Systems and Technology Business Group. In this capacity, he had responsibility for technical departments that included defense and space systems analysis, chemical warfare defense, ordnance systems and technology, and foreign science and technology. Previously, as Vice President of Battelle’s Defense Engineering Business, Mr. Kluse led three product lines: electronics and avionics systems, information systems engineering and process modernization, and equipment development.

Peter Kuper, Morgan Stanley Guest Speaker

Peter Kuper is the Vice President, Senior Research Analyst at Morgan Stanley where he heads the software team after establishing their platform in the security and content management technologies. In his role as a leading analyst, Peter maintains relationships with significant research labs including the US Government’s PNNL, software entrepreneurs and management teams to provide them with unparalleled access to his research and findings. Most recently he was a director and equity analyst at SG Cowen Company, where he covered the software sector with a particular focus on security. He has also been an equity analyst and vice president at FAC/Equities and a research analyst at Keefe, Bruyette Woods.

His background includes experience in mergers and acquisitions, asset management and venture capital. Peter is also a faculty member of the Institute for Applied Network Security. In addition, Peter has been Keynote speaker at number of industry events such as the Cisco Global Sales Conference and regularly gives presentations to venture capital firms and government agencies including the Pentagon. Peter has frequently appeared on business television programs including CNBC and has been quoted in numerous publications most notably The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Reuters and Bloomberg News.

Bill Peterson, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Maritime Panel Chair

Bill Peterson completed a 30+ year career in the U.S Coast Guard retiring as a CAPT/06 before coming to PNNL's National Security Directorate in 2005. He has served with distinction in various progressive Coast Guard leadership, operational, and staff positions.

His staff tours included Chief of Aviation Forces in Washington, DC; Chief of Search and Rescue and Acting Operations Officer for CG District 13 in Seattle, WA; and Plans and Programs Project Officer for Aviation in Washington, DC. Operationally he served as Commanding Officer of Group and Air Station Port Angeles, WA and Air Station New Orleans, LA; Executive Officer, Operations Officer, and Search and Rescue (SAR) Pilot at Air Station Kodiak, AK; Air Operations, Assistant Group Operations and SAR Pilot at Group and Air Station Astoria, OR; Assistant Head of the Ship/Helo Office and Instructor Pilot at Aviation Training Center in Mobile, AL; Assistant Head of the Enforcement of Laws and Treaties Office, Senior Alaskan Patrol Aviator, and SAR Pilot at Air Station Kodiak, AK; Communications Officer, Public Works Officer, SAR Pilot at Air Station Group Port Angeles, WA; and Deck Watch Officer and First Lieutenant on USCGC Yocona (WMEC 168) at Astoria, OR.

Lee Schwartz, Department of State Keynote Speaker

Lee Schwartz is The Geographer of the Department of State and the Director of its Office of The Geographer and Global Issues in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research. Previously, he held positions as division chief for Global Issues and for United Nations and Humanitarian Concerns. Schwartz is the Department’s 9th Geographer, a position established in 1921 and, according to federal regulations, is responsible for providing guidance to all federal agencies on questions of international boundaries and sovereignty claims. He also oversees the Department’s Humanitarian Information Unit. Dr. Schwartz is a specialist on political and population geography, with a focus on countries of the former Soviet Union, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe. His B.A. was from Bucknell University and his M.A. and Ph. D. were from Columbia University.

Prior to joining the Office of The Geographer in 1992, Dr. Schwartz was a member of the faculty of The American University’s School of International Service. At the Department of State, he has directed research and analysis on global issues primarily related to complex humanitarian emergencies and has coordinated related fieldwork and applied geography projects overseas, including in the Balkans, Central Asia, Russia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa. His recent work has focused on ethnic conflict, refugee flows, peacekeeping operations, strategic warning, conflict mitigation and response, and GIS information coordination. He was the State Department’s 2005 winner of the Warren Christopher Award for Outstanding Achievement in Global Affairs.

Jim Thomas, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory NVAC Director

Jim Thomas is director of the Department of Homeland Security’s National Visualization and Analytics Center and a Laboratory Fellow at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. With a career spanning 30 years of contributions in information technology, Jim specializes in the research, design and implementation of innovative information and scientific visualization, multimedia and human computer interaction technology. At PNNL, he has established investment directions for information technology, led major technology initiatives, mentored staff and spearheaded several major research programs.

LCDR Steve Wheeler, U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Panel Member

Steve enlisted in the U. S. Coast Guard in 1989, and completed two tours afloat then graduated Officer Candidate School in 1994. After being stationed in North Bend, OR as Surface Operations Officer 1994-5, he completed another tour afloat as Operations Officer in 1995-7. He served locally as the Waterways Analysis and Management System Officer for Coast Guard District 13 in Seattle, WA 1997-2000. During 9/11 Steve was stationed in New Haven, CT as Operations Officer for Group/Marine Safety Office Long Island Sound 2000-3, where he helped define the Coast Guard's new role as "Sea Marshals" for commercial vessels entering U. S. waters. LCDR Wheeler is currently stationed at Sector Seattle as Chief of the Puget Sound Joint Harbor Operations Center.

Steve has a BA in Military Management from Charter Oak State College New Britain, CT and is working on a Masters in the Homeland Security from the Naval Postgraduate program.

Maria Zemankova, National Science Foundation NSF Update

Maria Zemankova is managing proposals and awards in the area of data, information and knowledge management. This includes research and educational activities fundamental to the design, implementation, development, management, and use of databases, information retrieval, and knowledge-based systems across personal, organizational or global information systems. Topics include, but are not limited to novel data types (e.g., streams, graphs, links, tables, scientific/mathematical formulae/equations, complex structures, semi-structured or unstructured data), metadata, information, knowledge and process/event modeling; multimedia, geospatial and multidimensional information systems; query languages and processing; information search and retrieval, information presentation and interaction; information organization, interoperability, integration, summarization and visualization; data/information analysis, data mining, knowledge discovery and visualization; efficient data gathering and storage/archival; highly scalable, data-intensive and distributed/mobile information systems; systems architecture, implementation, performance and quality of service, optimization, and evolution; security/privacy issues; information flow, dynamic/evolutionary systems, change maintenance, and information life-cycle management.

Maria Zemankova completed grammar school and a computer programmer and operator school in Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic), received her B.S. (with Highest Honors) in Mathematics and Computing with minor in Psychology from the American University in Cairo in 1977, and M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Florida State University in 1979 and 1983, respectively.

Dr. Zemankova served on the Advisory Board of the ACM SIGMOD (Association for Computing Machinery, Special Interest Group on Management of Data), on the Board of Directors of NAFIPS (North American Fuzzy Information Processing Society) and is a member of ACM, IEEE Computer Society, NAFIPS and Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. In 1992, she received the ACM SIGMOD Contributions Award.